Planing watercraft

ABSTRACT

A planing watercraft adapted to be towed by a speed boat comprises at least one planing ski rigidly connected to an upright stand. A seat and a transverse steering bar are attached on the stand along with a releasable catch for selectively releasing a towing line.

United States Patent 1191 m1 8033,1653

Trostad 1451 Apr, 16, 1974 1 PLANING WATERCRAFT 2,721,088 10/1955 1111151,]: 9/310 c x 3,336,038 8/1967 Cohen 9/310 1: x [75] lnvemm- Per TrstadrTaby- Swede" 3,204,263 9/1965 Bash 9/310 c [.73] A i S f Transpm-t AB Stockholm, 3,642,299 2/1972 Garcia 9/310 8 X Sweden 3,123,375 3/1964 Courtney 9/310 c x [22] Filed, Feb 10 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,902,422 5/1971 Germany 9/310 c v 211 Appl. No.: 225,116

Primary Examiner-Duane A. Reger 30 Foreign Application p Data I Assistant Examiner Paul E. Sauberer Feb. 19, 1971 Sweden 2188/71 4" i Tlensvdd Fem/PM lips & Lempio [52] 11.8. C1. 9/310 C, 114/235 WS 511 1111.0. A63c 15/00 [571 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 9/310 R, 310 C, 310 B; A planing watercraft adapted to be towed by a speed 114/235 WS; 115/21, 22, 27 boat comprises at least one planing ski rigidly connectedto an upright stand. A seat and a transverse [56] References Cited steerin bar MCXAQdMQL JDQiQQQ along with a re- UNITED STATES PATENTS easa 1e catch for selectively releasing? 3,064,286 11/1962 Hammond 9/310 B I 7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to overcome the'above,

briefly described problems by providing an economical planing watercraft which exhibits high degrees of comfort and stability. The watercraft comprises at least one planing ski having an upright stand secured thereto and a seat and transverse steering bar attached to the stand. lnthe preferred embodiment of this invention, a ridercon'tfolled qt i ck relgase inean s'is provided'for selec BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE'DRAWING Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a watercraft-embodying this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the watercraft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The illustrated watercraft comprises a horizontally disposed planing ski 1 removably attached to an upright stand. The upright stand 2 is comprised of a pair of spaced vertical support members disposed on said ski with the forward member having a horizontal and forwardly extending section extending from its upper end and terminating in an upward section. A seat 3 is connected to and supported on said members 2 vertically above the ski and a transverse steering bar 4 removably attached to the upward section. The steering bar terminates at its outer ends at two hanEiIFgiip'sE 8 by manual control means, such as a cable controlled hand lever 10, mounted adjace'rif'foilia n dle stfie latch rhiiib'i'dtild comprise a hooked end, for example, which would automatically release member 8 under the force of the spring upon release of lever 10.

Seat 3 and float 7 preferably comprise a floatable material having a specific gravity substantially less than I 1.0 to normally prevent the ski from sinking below water level by providing a composite specific gravity for the watercraft which is less than l.0. Such floating means will thus maintain the craft upright to facilitate embarking and debarking in deep water even though the stand and ski may have specific gravities greater than 1.0. In addition, when the craft is started in shallow water or from a beach, the rider has the advantage ofa relatively low center of gravity due to the construction and arrangement of the frame and attendant constructions.

The position of seat 3, float 7 and handle grips 5 in relation to ski 1 may be adjusted by means, not fully shown, to accommodate riders of various sizes. The rider is normally seated on seat 3 to have his knees placed on opposite sides of float 7, his feet on ski 1 and his hands on handle grips 5 and 5. Thus, a comfortable posture is realized in that the riders upper arms and lower legs are disposed essentially parallel to the trunk of his body and his lower arms and thighs are main tained roughly perpendicular thereto.

It has been established through actual testing that it is preferable to place the seat immediately above the ski and intermediate the ends thereof and that the length of the ski on each end of the seat should approximate at least two and preferably four times the vertical height of the seat from the ski. In addition, the width of the ski'directly under the seat should approximate one-half of such vertical sitting height. Also, the width of the ski's rearward or trailing end is preferably constructed to be narrower (e.g., two-fifths) than its forward end. As further shown in FIG. 1, the ski is preferably tapered rearwardly and is rounded at its forward end.

Tests have further shown that the vertical height of quick release means 8 for the tow line should essentially equal the vertical height of the seat. Furthermore, the quick release means should be positioned at a longitudinal distance from the seat which is preferably not less than one-third of the overall length of the ski. Also, the front half of the ski preferably points upwardly relative to the rear half thereof (FIG. 1) to form an obtuse planing surface angle so that planed water will be thrown aside to prevent impairment of the riders vision.

Various modifications can be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, the single ski could be replaced by two or more parallel skis laterally spaced at a suitable distance and connected together by a plate covering the space therebetween. The plate could be made adjustable in a lateral direction to selectively change the distance between the two skis. Such a modification would facilitate starting, reduce water splash during travel and provide additional space for the rider's feet, especially when the rider wears miniature skis or webbed flippers for stunt-riding. As suggested above, the ski, seat, steering bar and float may be made detachable from each other by the use of standard couplings to permit-the watercraft to be disassembled for transport purposes.

What is claimed is:

1. A planing watercraft adapted to be towed comprising a single substantially horizontally disposed planing ski, an upright stand rigidly connected to said ski and comprised of two vertical spaced supports with said forward support having a forward horizontal portion at its upper end terminating in an upward section, a seat mounted on said supports extending lengthwise m the direction of said ski, vertically above and intermediate the ends thereof, a transverse steering bar mounted c n 3 1Aspit s29-ssfi iffi iii i ir l lfis i Said 5k? comprising a front section terminating in an upwardly curved leading portion and a rear section with the front section forming an upwardly directed obtuse angle relative to the rear section to thereby form an obtuse planing surface under the ski for directing the water to the sides thereof, said rear section having a width approximately two-fifths of the width of the front section, said front and rear sections having a length approximately four times as long as the vertical height between said ski and said seat with the width of said ski directly under said seat being approximately one-half of said vertical height, and a combined float and protective member attached to said forward horizontal portion between said steering bar and said seat and disposed at approximately the same vertical height as said seat with the lower edge of the seat disposed beneath that of said 4 3. The watercraft of claim 1 further comprising quick release means attached on a mcsrsaiawateri craft for selectively releasii g a towirig lirie'thefe ffom.

am ""e watercraft or claim '3 whereihsaid uicifi lease means is at least approximately positioned at the same vertical height as said seat and at a distance from said seat which is not less than one-third of the length of said ski.

5. The watercraft of-claim 3 further comprising manually actuated control means attached to said steering bar and operatively connected to said quick release means for selectively releasing a tow line from said watercraft.

6. The watercraft of claim 1 wherein the specific gravities of said ski and stand are more than 1.0 and wherein the composite specific gravity of said watercraft is less than 1.0 whereby said watercraft will float in water.

7. The watercraft of claim 1 wherein said ski, seat, steering bar and combined float and protective member are detachably secured to said stand to facilitate disassembly and transport of the watercraft. 

1. A planing watercraft adapted to be towed comprising a single substantially horizontally disposed planing ski, an upright stand rigidly connected to said ski and comprised of two vertical spaced supports with said forward support having a forward horizontal portion at its upper end terminating in an upward section, a seat mounted on said supports extending lengthwise in the direction of said ski, vertically above and intermediate the ends thereof, a transverse steering bar mounted on said upward section forwardly of said seat, said ski comprising a front section terminating in an upwardly curved leading portion and a rear section with the front section forming an upwardly directed obtuse angle relative to the rear section to thereby form an obtuse planing surface under the ski for directing the water to the sides thereof, said rear section having a width approximately two-fifths of the width of the front section, said front and rear sections having a length approximately four times as long as the vertical height between saiD ski and said seat with the width of said ski directly under said seat being approximately one-half of said vertical height, and a combined float and protective member attached to said forward horizontal portion between said steering bar and said seat and disposed at approximately the same vertical height as said seat with the lower edge of the seat disposed beneath that of said member, said seat and said combined float and protective member each comprising a volume of material having a specific gravity substantially less than 1.0 and said watercraft having a composite, specific gravity less than 1.0 to normally prevent said watercraft from sinking below water level.
 2. The watercraft of claim 1 further comprising a longitudinally extending fin secured under a rear end portion of said ski.
 3. The watercraft of claim 1 further comprising quick release means attached on a forward end of said watercraft for selectively releasing a towing line therefrom.
 4. The watercraft of claim 3 wherein said quick release means is at least approximately positioned at the same vertical height as said seat and at a distance from said seat which is not less than one-third of the length of said ski.
 5. The watercraft of claim 3 further comprising manually actuated control means attached to said steering bar and operatively connected to said quick release means for selectively releasing a tow line from said watercraft.
 6. The watercraft of claim 1 wherein the specific gravities of said ski and stand are more than 1.0 and wherein the composite specific gravity of said watercraft is less than 1.0 whereby said watercraft will float in water.
 7. The watercraft of claim 1 wherein said ski, seat, steering bar and combined float and protective member are detachably secured to said stand to facilitate disassembly and transport of the watercraft. 